Tonight, we begin with the last murder for 2021, number 125. While many people were getting ready to bring in the New Year, a family was dealing with the loss of their son, brother and father.
33-year-old Akeem Welch was shot sometime around 8:30pm on New Year's Eve, only a few minutes after he'd left his home. His family believes that he is innocent and thinks the gunman had the wrong target. Still, as they prepare to bury their loved one, they remember the family portrait they had planned to take on January 1st.
Courtney Menzies visited their home today and has this story.
A family of 7 siblings is mourning their eldest brother after he was gunned down on Friday night. 33-year-old Akeem Welch was on his motorcycle near a friend's home, only a stone's throw from his own, when he was fatally shot around 8:30. And while families were getting ready to celebrate New Year's Eve, his family brought in 2022 in tears.
Voice of: Kendra Welch, Sister of Deceased
"We were home when we hear pop shots first then after that we heard some gunshots but I didn't know it was my brother because he was right here, the quickness of him leaving, then I couldn't believe so when the shot burst I didn't get up to see it was my brother because we just left him in front of the yard but I heard people bawling out so when we decided to go out there the truck was already passing and I told the police to stop if I could see if it was my brother and I saw him right there then I broke down in tears, the lady had to grab me because I couldn't take it then my ma heard us bawling out then my ma said, hmph, that must be one of her son, then from then we just come home and we cry and cry because they chance my brother out of his life. he's innocent."
"He always go back there, he never expect that people want to hurt him. It's like, because you could barely see around there, it's dark so they have to dodge you and so as he come out of the yard they probably shoot up he and like on straight to his heart so he died nearly on the spot."
And his sister emphasized the Welch was not associated with any gangs - in fact his aspiration was to become a farmer to take care of his 9-year-old daughter.
Voice of: Kendra Welch, Sister of Deceased
"Akeem was a loving person to we, he was my favorite brother, they say we favor because we have our big eye and thing but he was nice, hardworking father to his child."
"He like animals, he had sheep, he had chicken, he had duck till one spell he want bring pig and my ma tell him he need a farm to raise your pigs and your animals, he loved animals, and he love all his nieces and nephews and his brothers and sister."
Courtney Menzies:
"So was his goal to make money off of farming, that's what he wanted to do?"
Voice of: Kendra Welch, Sister of Deceased
"Yes, 11 chicken just hatch and people came to buy them but they hurt we so bad, they chance my brother out of his life but God isn't sleeping, God see that who do it and payback is a must, no worry."
"My ma just wanted us to take a family picture for New Years, we didn't even get to reach New Years with my brother and they took him away from us."
Welch was also shot back in 2007 when he was only 19-years-old after a teenager opened fire on a crowd of people, hitting Welch and two other persons - including a 10-year-old child.
